Pressing a kilt isn't difficult work, but it's _very_ easy to wind up with the pleats pressed in the wrong place. Once the pleats are pressed wrong, it's tough to get the creases out and get the pleats back where they should be pressed. Basting the pleats before pressing holds the pleats where they...

Cool. I have always wondered how to get my pleats ironed nice and strait. I now have a little project for this weekend.

Beautiful, usefull and so simple, really thanks!

Slainte!

I just did this to my kilt tonight. I barely got done ironing it about 5 minutes ago. My kilt looks so much better! The pleats are right in line. The basting made the ironing so much easier. Thanks for the tip!

After basting the pleats, do you hand Iron, or bring it in to a Dry Cleaning service where they have industrial iron presses.

Secondly, if you're working with a fabric and not wool. ie a lighter material like poly blends, do you starch the pleats to help hold the crease and keep the panels flat ?

No reason why you can't do the pressing yourself. If you have a wool kilt, dampen a press cloth (an old pillowcase works great), and lay it on the kilt. Press with a steam iron. PRESS, don't slide the iron. Keep re-dampening the press cloth, and press both sides of the kilt. Let it dry before taking out the basting.

For PV, just be sure not to have the iron too hot, or you'll melt the fabric.

I don't have any experience with starching poly blends. Sorry!